:pray:

We have two oaks in our yard one in front and one in back. They are the nastiest trees around. Always raking and cleaning up the crap that they leave on the walkways,driveways and patio. We bought our house because there was shade and the trees looked nice but after living here for three years we are about ready to look for another house. My backyard had beautiful grass and now it is bare,my front yard is getting that way too. The oaks in Michigan were a better tree. I wish we could take the trees down and plant another type of tree but not a palm.

I paid $10,000 for my lot in the same area and I didn't have a live oak. Why would that raise the price of the lot ? Just wondering where you heard that was the reason for the lot price.

Duh, don't know what I was thinking. :( I meant gutters !!

If it's a sin, there's going to be a huge number of Villages residents in the penalty box with me! :evil6:

I think it's hilarious how someone could they know what feeling I get when I look out my windows (regardless of what the outdoor temp may be) & see beautiful green palms in my yard, even way up here in Birmingham, AL.
I mean c'mon, seriously?

Interesting question. The closest I can come up with as an answer:

Definition

Although "tree" is a term of common parlance, there is no universally recognised precise definition of what a tree is, either botanically or in common language.[1] In its broadest sense, a tree is any plant with the general form of an elongated stem, or trunk, which supports the photosynthetic leaves or branches at some distance above the ground.[2] Trees are also typically defined by height,[3] with smaller plants from 0.5 to 10 m (1.6 to 32.8 ft) being called shrubs,[4] so the minimum height of a tree is only loosely defined.[3] Large herbaceous plants such as papaya and bananas are trees in this broad sense.[1][5]
A commonly applied narrower definition is that a tree has a woody trunk formed by secondary growth, meaning that the trunk thickens each year by growing outwards, in addition to the primary upwards growth from the growing tip.[3][6] Under such a definition, herbaceous plants such as palms, bananas and papayas are not considered trees regardless of their height, growth form or stem girth. Certain monocots may be considered trees under a slightly looser definition;[7] while the Joshua tree, bamboos and palms do not have secondary growth and never produce true wood with growth rings,[8][9] they may produce "pseudo-wood" by lignifying cells formed by primary growth.[10]
Aside from structural definitions, trees are commonly defined by use, for instance as those plants which yield lumber.[11]

Thanks, downeaster. We had a large palm taken out because our neighbor was complaining that the fronds brushed their roof, but it never occurred to us that the thing was a "tree" and didn't ask anyone's permission.

Also ... one day afterwards I saw our neighbor stride angrily out of the house wearing her bathrobe and come around the corner to catch the palm in action as it was making the noise that kept her and her husband up all night. She was quite startled to see that it was gone. I was quite mirthful at her expression.

Personally, I think it's squirrels on their roof.

.
Have learned that I would NEVER have another Live Oak.

Never ill until moved to The Villages.
After over $3800
paid to Docs and many Allergy tests, found am EXTREMELY
allergic to Spanish Moss growing on Live Oak Trees.

The Villages (?) would not permit REMOVAL the Live Oak
because it had over 4 inch diameter trunk.

Our street now pays to have
that NASTY Spanish Moss removed every year.
I was not the only one allergic to Spanish Moss.

BONUS....
The Live Oaks attract SQUIRRELS. To get the Acorns.
...............Squirrels climb on Lanai and birdcage screens and tear the screens....
.so far just $ 2100 to replace screens ...at just one house.

ADDED BONUS...
The squirrels sharpen their teeth on the lead flashing
protecting your vent stacks on your roof. This causes leaks in your roof.

The leaks follow your trusses to
your ceilings. Soon you discover your ceiling is discolored from the leak.
After more than $ 2000. for repairs to ceilings and more than $1200
in mold remediation in the attic.....

BONUS #3
....next door neighbors Live Oak was planted
by The Villages landscape contractor DIRECTLY ABOVE the sewer pipe.
They had a major sewerage backups in 2 bathrooms.
This due to the Live Oak roots infiltrating
their sewer pipe to the street.
The repair costs EXCEEDED $ 10 GRAND.
This repaired the pipes and replaced tile and some furniture.

Nobody will ever convince me that Live Oaks are nice to have.

I NEVER want a home with or near a Live Oak--

Don't want to rake anymore!

Catty - you have hit all the appropriate reasons. We got rid of our live oaks at 3". Go palms!